The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-22
have conceded to our demands, we shall
be impelled to resist from work"

MrS. BlnnS opened ner eyes "lue.
"Ain't I payin' you good wages
already2" said she. "And can't afford
to pay no more-not cent"
Mrs. Mackenzie took q roll of paper
out of her apron-pocket and opened it.
81 have here, ma'am," said she, purs-
ing up her thin lips, "the signatures OF
ali the ladies and gents at present as
sistin' in the mediterranean regises down
stairs, including the four walters of the
colored gender and the two Chinese
washer-laundries; and we won't none OF
us stay another hour without you'll agree
in acumentary writin', ma'am, to raise
our salaries.
And Mrs. Mackenzie tossed her head
in spiteful satisfaction.
Mrs. Binns sank back on her pillows.
81 can't give no answer" said she
"not with this pain in my bones. Send
Miss Arethusa Allen to me, please" 49,
"Oh, certainly, MISUNDERSTANDING
said the cook, rising. ''Sorry you feel
so poorly. But you'll bear in mind,
ma'am, that we shall expect an answer
immediate"
And Mrs. Mackenzie withdrew.
Presently Arethusa Allen came in
for, as it CHANGED, the district school had
closed a week previously, for the sum-
mer vacation-and found Mrs. Binns dis
solved in tears.
"What is it, dear Mrs. Binns2" said
Arethusa.
"The help has all struck for higher
wages" cried Mrs. Binns. "And I'm
payin' 'cm more than I can afford now.
And all the prices of provisions have riz,
and 1 may as we'll close the place at
once. Oh, Arethusa, my head aches so
1 can't think! What shall 1 do2 Tell
me-there's a dearn'
"Nothing," said Arethusa, quietly.
"Just lie down again and let me send
for the DOCTOR"
"But the boarders and the dinner2"
'I'll see to that" said Arethusa.
"Trust me, and all shall be right. Those
people down stairs have been growing
idler, and more domineering and ineffi-
cient, every day; and now they VANITY
to pay them more money for doing less
work. There must be an end to this.
You will empower me with full au-
thority!"
Mrs. Binns sent for the cook.
"SIrs. Mackenzie" " said she, 81 am too
sick to parley with you, but Miss Allen
will represent me fully. What she says,
I saym
And she lay down and turned her face
to the wall, with shut eyes, as if she
washed her hands of the whole concern;
while Mrs. Mackenzie bridled and turned
to the slim young school teacher, who in
her heart she secretly despised "as no
better than a servant herself, with all
them airs and graces of hern."
"Well, Miss Allen" said she, "what's
your mind on the subjecta The sooner
the question is settled the better for all
parties. We amt goin' to stand her i'm
positionw
Whatever idea Arethusa might have
entertained as to compromise was thor
oughly banished by the cool insolence OF
this last remak.
"You may CO." said she.
"Hey9" said Mrs. Mackenzie, bristling
up like setting hen.
II decline to entertain your proposal" "
said Arethusa, calmly. "Pack up your
things, all of you, and leave the house at
once. If you are expeditions, you may
succeed in taking the noon-train, that
stops at the Gorge"
And she paid their wages, out Of Mrs.
Binns's cherry wood secretary, and dis
charged them,a the good lady afterward
remarked, ''horse, foot and dragons"
Then she called a convention of the
boarders, and told the tale.
eff you won't mind dinner of cold
lamb and lettuce to-day" saio she, "with
q dessert of snow-pudding that I can
make myself, I will promise you some
thing more elaborate tomorrow"
And they all cheerfully consented.
John, the stable-boy, was the only ad-
herent left, and he harnessed up the
horses and drove Miss Allen down the
mountain-side to a farmhouse, where
lived Mrs. Beasley, the mother OF the big
boy who had been the school-ma'ams
worst enemy at first and her most faith
full ally ever afterward.
'sNIrs. Beasley," said Arethusa, II want
to borrow your two daughters"
''Bless me, Miss Arethusa!" said the
good woman, "what for2"
"To help me at the Gorge House" and
Arethusa told her story. Joanna and
Fanny are quick, smart girls. I'll pay
them dollar and half week to act as
mattresses.
"They'd oblige you, Miss Arethusa,
cheerfully, without a cent" said Mrs.
Beasley.
"They will oblige me more by accept
ING a suitable remuneration" said Are
thusa. cat this stage of the world,
everything is worth its money value, you
know. What say you, girls! Will you
go?"
"And welcome" said Fanny.
eff we can learn the business" said
Joanna, who was shyer, and more dis
trustful of herself.
'rll make it my business to instruct
you," said Arethusa, brightly. 'Pack
up your things. Be ready to jump into
the wagon when l come back"
Cant do nothing Miss Allen2" said
big Junius, wistfully.
Il am going to get Susan Rich to do the
washing, nsaid Arethusa. eff you would
turn the handle for her sometimes"
''I'll turn it from now till doomsday,
if it'll help you, Miss Allen" said Jun
ius. Susan amt half bad girl,
neither, if she didn't chaff a fellow So"
"Thank you, Junius," said Miss Allen.
"You will oblige me very much, indeed. I"
Mrs. Ridley, who had once been house